Roofer&#39;s tool.



(No Model.)

Patented Aug. 8, I899. J. R. MAXWELL.

BOOFERS TOOL.

(Application fled Ill). 10, 1898.

2 Sheets-Sheet c' fizz/:17 01 No. 630,387. Patented Aug.8, I899.

J. B; MAXWELL.

ROOFERS TOOL.

(Applicgtion filed Feb. 19, 1898.) (No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES R. MAXWELL, OF HYDE PARK, OHIO.

ROOFERfS TOOL.

srEcIrIcA'rIon formingpart of Letters Patent No, 630,387, dated August s, 1899. Application filed February 19, 1898. Serial No. 670,924. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, J AMEs R. MAXWELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident-of Hyde Park, Hamilton county, State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Roofers Tool; and I do hereby declare the following to be a clear, full, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, attention being called to the accompanying drawings, with the ref erence-letters marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to an implement to be used in connection with the putting down of metal roofing. It is particularly intended to be used in connection with so-called selfcapped roofing and roofing similar to it coming in long sheets which are laid down onto the wooden sheeting of the roof and connected at their adjoining edges by a standing seam. I This seam is made by forming upturned flanges on the adjoining edges of the sheets, of which always one flange of one sheet is higher than the one opposite it on the adjoining sheet, which excess of height after the two flanges are brought against each other is turned over the lower one and down on the other side thereof, after which the adjoining metal surfaces and overlapping edges and flanges are tightly squeezed together, thus finishing the seam. At present the different manipulations for the purpose of constructing such a seamto wit, bending up the edges of the sheets to form the flanges, turning the proj ecting part of the higher flange over the lower one and overlapping the same, and, finally, squeezing the engaging parts tightly together-are generally done by tools specially constructed for each manipulation. Thus seaming-tongs for turning up the flanges are required-one for turning up the lower one and another for the higher flange. Frequentlyin place of two such tongs a tool is used which may be adjusted to form these two flanges, but which on account of its complicated construction is expensive and unreliable. Next a special forming-tool is used for bending the higher flange around and turning it down over the lower one, so as to overlap the latter. This operation is also frequently performed by a mallet. Finally,

squeezing-tongs are applied to finish the seam. Thus, as will be seen, in such case four tools are used, which increases considerably the cost of a roofers outfit outside of the expense and labor which their transportation entails. Their alternate use during working also causes considerable waste of time when dropping'one tool and changing to another one.

In view of these facts it is the object of my invention to provide a tool of simple but du-. rable and practical construction which is so arranged as to permit all the different manipulations necessary to form such a seam to be performed therewith from the primary turning up and formation of the flanges of different width down to the final squeezing together of the seam.

In the following specification, and particularly pointed out in the claims, is found a full description of the invention, its manner of use, parts, and construction, which latter is also illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1 to 6 show end views of the tool 'with parts in the different positions which they assume during the various manipulations which are executed for the purpose of forming the seam. Fig. 7 is a top view of it as it appears in Fig. 6. Fig. 8 shows it with the handles connected to be adjustable. This figure is very much reduced as against the preceding figures. Fig. 9 is a detail view of Fig. 8, with the parts enlarged to about twice the size of the latter.

.In most of the views. the handles, owing to their extended length, are not fully shown.

The tool is essentially a clamping-tOol-that is, in all the different manipulations a clamping action obtains always, either for the purpose of producing a direct efiect by such actionor merely'for the purpose of holding the tool in position on the metal while performing certain other manipulations therewith. For such purpose the tool is constructed to embrace first two clamping-jaws A and B, having opposing clamping-surfaces a b and pivotallyconnected by a pinE, which passes through lugs provided alternately] on the jaws. Each of thelatter has a handle, one, a, on A and one, b, 0113B, which handles as to the first seven figures are so shaped and connected as to require an outwardthat is,

mit it to be passed below the edges of the sheet for the purpose of gripping the same. In this manipulation the clamping action of the jaws is merely for the purpose of holding tool and metal in position with reference to each other, the bending of the metal being done by a lever action of the whole toolthat is, by the two handles which together and as awhole are moved u pwardly-that is, in the direction of the arrows-until the upturned part has assumed a position about at right angles to the balance of the sheet. As has been stated,one of these flanges is to be higher than the other,for which purpose theirheig'ht is regulated by limiting accordingly the bite of the jaw'sthat is, the metal they may take inin each case. This is done by stops, which limit as to the effect of their ac- I tion the depth of the clamping-jaws. For the 7 face a.

higher flange c a stop F is provided, which consists simply of the metal forming the body of jaw'A at the inner end of clamping-surstop G is used which is moved so asto limit thepnrchase of the clamping-jaws, as shown in Fig. 2. ln'detail this stop consists of a flat plate pivota'lly supported, pin E being used for such purpose, and the end of which I is reduced, as shown at e, to form a rivet for receiving such plate.

' and formed one on each clamping-j aw. Edge L is formed by terminating the clamping-surshow the rivet e thereat.

When in position, this stop rests against a pin g, :as shown. 3'it has been left off from the end of pin E to 6 pin E is shown in section. subsequent manipulations stop G is not required, and consequently moved out of the' Afterway to a position as shown in Fig. 1. the flanges have thus been formed the sheets in Fig. 3.

posing action of two opposite edges L and Z face I), as shownthat is, so as to come about even with the upper edge of the narrower iflange d. The other edge Zis formed by a downward projection of the metal of clamping-jaw A, the end of which projection is beveled, as shown.- Clamping-jaw B back" and inwardly from edgeL is hollowed out,]

as shown at Z, to produce the requisite clear- For the lower flange d an adjustable In Fig.

In Figs. 4, 5, and During the like in ordinary tongs.

ance to permit part c of flange c to turn and also to obtain the inner bevel for edge L. The necessary manipulation of the tool while forming this part of the joint is shown in Figs. 3 and 4. With jaws open, so as to take in the two upturned flanges, the tool is placed with the outer point of jaw A in the corner formed by flange c, as shown in Fig. 3, and then the jaws are closed, while at the same time the whole tool is moved, as shown by the large arrow, until the parts arrive about in a position as shown in Fig. i, the movement being continued until clamping-surfaces a and I) come as close to each other as possible. This leaves part-c of the flange in a shape as shown in Fig. 5t'hat is, started sufficiently down and below the horizontal line to permit application of clamping-tongs to squeeze the parts finally together. This turning of'c below a horizontal line is due to the fact that edge L moves first under edg'eZ and after passing beyond the same rises again slightly and approaches the latter on the other side thereof. This movement of edges L and Z with reference to each other is due to the location of the pivot from which they are swungt'hat is, the'loc'ation of pin E, which connects jaws A and B, and which location is to one side-that is, eccen'trica'lly tothe clamping-line. When the manipulation illustrated in Fig. 4 is complete, the tool is disengaged by beingslid out endwise,lturned around, and

opened, so as to permit clamping-surface b to be placed against flange c, as shown in Fig. 5. The tool is operated now simply as squeezingtongs by bringing clamping-surfaces a and b toward each other, as'shown in Fig. 6-,which finishes the seam. During this manipulation the broad surface at the outer end of jaw B, which is disposed substantially at right angles to its clamping-face 1), serves to support the tool in proper position.

The object of the modified construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is simply to permit an adjustment of the handles to aposition whereby their manner of use, as shown in 1 Figs. 1 and 2,-for the purpose of holding the clamping-jaws closed is reversed, so that instead of moving and holding the handles apartthey are held together for such purpose, For such purpose sockets H are provided on each jaw, which receive the lower ends of the handles. These sockets are slotted, as shown at h, and pins h are provided which pass through the lower ends of the handles and, extending also into slots h,'hold the handles in position. 'If these pins are moved to a position as shown for.

handle a, in Fig. 9-that is, so as to reach with each end'into slot h at each side of the handlethen the latter is locked in its position, while when in a position as shownfor handle I) in the same figure the handle may be readily turned and adjusted, as shown in Fig. 8. I

As will be observechdthe provision of projection Z on jaw A creates a slot f between these two parts of the jaw. This slot is of considerable advantage, inasmuch as it aids retention of the edge of the sheet in proper position with reference to stop F when the tool is manipulated for the purpose as shown in Fig. 1.

Having described my invention, I claim as new- 1. In a roofers tool for the purpose of forming flanges at the edges of sheets, the combination of two opposing clamping-jaws'pivotally connected and one being pointed to permit engagement with a flat-lying sheet pivotally-supported stops one at each end for adjusting the accessible depth of the clamping-surfaces of these clamping-jaws, and pins g, whereby said stops are held in their adjusted positions.

2. In a roofers tool for the purpose of forming flanges at the edges of sheets, the combination of two opposing clamping-jaws A and B, a pin E, whereby they are pivotally connected and stops G, one supported at each end of said pin for the purpose described.

3. In a roofers tool for the purpose of forming flanges at the edges of sheets, the combination of two opposing clamping-jaws A and B pivotally supported and a slot f provided in jaw A adapted to receive the edge of a sheet and whereby the purchase of the jaws is limited to determine the width of the flange to be formed.

4. In a roofers tool for the purpose of forming flanges at the edges of sheets, the combination of two opposing clamping-jawsA and B pivotally supported, a slot f provided in jaw A adapted to receive the edge of a sheet of metal and determining the width of a flange to be formed and an adjustable stop adapted to be moved to prevent full access to said slot thereby permitting formation of a narrower flange and determining also the width of the latter.

5. In a roofers tool for the purpose of forming the connecting-seams between sheet-roofing, the combination of pivotally-connected opposing jaws, each provided with a socket H, a curved handle fitted into each socket, each of which is provided with a slot h, and a pin h projecting from each handle and by extending into slots h, holds the handles in place.

6. In a roofers tool for the purpose of bending, shaping and flanging the edges of metal sheets used in sheet-roofing and for connecting the edges after so flanged, by an overlapping seam, the combination of two eccentric ally-hinged jaws A and B, with clampingfaces a and b, the outer edges of which are coincident and one being pointed to permit the particular jaw to be passed under the edge of a sheet, for the purpose of turning the same up to form a flange, one of the clamping-jaws having a projecting lip, forming a projecting turning edge, the clamping-face of the other clamping-jaw being of less depth, forming an internal lip or internal turning edge adapted to pass under the projecting turning edge first mentioned all as shown and for the purpose described.

7. In a roofers tool for the purpose of bending, shaping and flanging the edges of metal sheets used for sheet-roofing, for connecting the edges after so flanged by an overlapping seam and for squeezing the same together, the combination of two clamping-jaws being hinged together and each provided with a clamping-face, the outer edges of which are coincident, the extreme outer end of one jaw being pointed, to permit it to be passed under the edges of sheets for the purpose of flanging the same, the outer end of the other one being broadened to provide a supporting-base for the tool to rest on while used during certain manipulations of the general operation.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES R. MAXWELL.

Witnesses:

E. D. BEVITT, O. SPENGEL. 

